KIRMES & Park REVUE (English) Special: Rouen (Vorschau)

CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Gourmet Eldorado:
the Christmas market in Pilsen
ous spiral which is then dropped into hot oil. Most stalls
however, boasted a motor-driven mechanical version of
this simple device. We simply must mention too the ?elné
plátky; the delicious and compellingly 'garlicky' Rösti-type
of potato cakes formed from shredded cabbage and potatoes.
Not to be overlooked either were the Trdelnik, formed
from almond-laced dough cooked on a spindle over hot
charcoal. Also characteristically Czech was the hot, honey
wine (not mead!), a pleasing alternative to Glühwein. The
particular 'vintage' we sampled was, as our charming patron,
Pavlina, explained, created from an old Czech recipe,
but was now made in Slovakia. Delicious, and at 13%,
decidedly heady! However, apart from this typical Czech
Yuletide fare there was also a number of gastronomic
operations offering spectacular old traditional Czech cuisine
that one simply does not typically find in restaurants.
Brambory, a savoury mix of potatoes, bacon, pork, onion,
garlic, peppers and, of course, klobása – the ubiquitous
Czech sausage without which any meal would be almost
unthinkable! We'll certainly be back next year, – and to
more 'seasonal' weather, we hope.
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The Christmas market in
Winterthur
WINTERTHUR (CH)
Text & Photos: Daniel Kägi
The idea to hold a Christmas market in Winterthur
came from Susi Albl. Apart from the one in Basle,
no Christmas markets had taken place in Switzerland
for a long time.
The first Christmas market in Winterthur was held in the
Stadtgarten in 1997. Four years later the organising
body, the Christmas Market Association, was granted
permission to build up the Christmas market on the
Neumarkt. The centrally located site is more spacious
and provides for a festive market in front of the romantic
medieval city centre background. In cooperation with
Geri Schmid, the association designed beautiful
wooden booths. From the very onset, numerous showmen
committed themselves heart-and-soul to the
Christmas event. As many of them did not have the
staying power to organise and build up the Christmas
market over a number of years, showman Nobi Albl
had one snack booth after the other built according to
his ideas, such as the "Türmli”, a raclette stall (a hot
potato gratin), which has been a landmark in the entrance
area of the market ever since. Moreover, a grill
was built that turned out to be something of an eye
catcher. The Christmas Market Association attached
considerable importance to a balanced product
choice from the very beginning. There are even products
offered only in Winterthur, which makes the
Christmas market quite distinctive compared to other
events. Much attention is also given to the decoration
of the booths and stalls, and those who do not make
the effort risk losing their sites. This time, Nobi Albl contracted
the Hartman-Dienstleistungen firm to build the
"Alte Mühle”, thereby providing another eye catcher.
As it enjoyed strong visitor attendance, there are
already plans for a larger annexe. The 23-day Winterthur
Christmas market is one of only a few longer markets in
terms of duration in Switzerland. Meanwhile new Christmas
markets are springing up everywhere, also in smaller
towns. However, as most of them last only 1 to 3 days
and only occasionally up to 9 days, building up elaborately
designed and decorated Christmas market
booths is hardly worth the effort.
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